2 DAYS IN PARIS

France, 2007, 96 minutes, Colour.
Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Bruhl, Marie Pillet, Albert Delpy, Aleksia Landeau.
Directed by Julie Delpy.

This is a surprisingly entertaining film despite the fact that the two central characters can be extremely irritating, prone to selfish and stupid behaviour.

In 1995, Julie Delpy starred with Ethan Hawke in what many thought of as a talkfest film, some finding it arresting and insightful, others finding it tedious. It was Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise. Nine years later, the three teamed up again for the opportunity to explore what had happened to the couple in the meantime, Before Sunset.

In recent interviews, Julie Delpy has spoken of how she and Ethan Hawke contributed to much of the dialogue. If one was a little sceptical about this claim, 2 Days in Paris proves how right – and how skilful – she was and is. Now she has written a similar kind of film, directed it, edited it, composed the music and some songs which she also sings. It is quite true when the credit comes up, a Julie Delpy Film.

This time the man is the bearded, prone to slob-look Jack, Adam Goldberg. Julie Delpy is his partner, Marion. And her actual parents play her mother and father in the film, ageing former hippies and artists.

The couple, who have lived together in New York for two years, arrive in Paris for a two day stopover to meet Marion’s family. They talk and talk – in ways very reminiscent of the ‘Before…’ films. But, instead of being confined, they move around Paris, meet cab-drivers (who seem to be particularly targeted by Delpy as crass and bigoted), arty friends, past loves. They both create emotional scenes, some of which grate but, all in all, the talk is often very funny, quite insightful into the uncertainties of contemporary young adults (and their hypochondria).

Julie Delpy proves herself to be quite a talent.

1.The work of Julie Delpy? Writing, directing, performance? Music?

2.The verbal wit of the film, comments on world issues, human nature? Insights? The portrait of France? The comments on France, America? On men, on women?

3.Paris as a character, the train ride into Paris, the station, the streets? Apartments, homes? Art galleries? Markets? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score, the songs and the lyrics?

4.The structure of the film: Marion and Jack arriving, Jack unwell? The experience in Venice, the photos? The explanation of the background? The visit to the parents, discovering the friends, introducing Jack, his experiences in Paris, alienated, Marion and her friends? Two days and going back to New York?

5.The details of the city, its look, the perspective on Paris?

6.The verbal humour, the verbal skills of the characters, the small talk, the serious talk? In French, in English? The various targets, the French cab drivers, the takeaway sellers? Racism and bigotry? American expectations, language? American introductions, blunt interactions? The old experienced world and the innocent from abroad?

7.Marion, Julie Delpy, her age, the background of her growing up, her relationship with her parents, the trouble with her eyes, focusing, the experience and photography? Relationships, sex, her memories? The various partners? Her anger? Her relationship with her parents, her mother and her dominance? Father and his flamboyance? Love, comment? Her sharing, her criticism? Getting to know Jack?

8.The contrast with Jack, his appearance, background, his tattoos, the story of his being in prison and a murderer? Jack as a hypochondriac? Going to the pharmacist? His various theories of contact – and her diagrams on screen? His worries, his self-image? The American in Paris? His comments?

9.The conversations, paranoia, angers?

10.Marion’s parents, sense of freedom, at home, the meals, conversation, targeting Jack? The art gallery, the nature of the art? Marion’s sister, her arrival, the tensions? The photo of naked Jack and the laughter? The mother wanting to do the laundry? Intruding when they were in bed? Their discussions, freedoms?

11.Marion and the man in the street, the memories? Manu? The restaurant, the man and his friend, her talking about his sexual relationships with underage girls in Thailand? The past, her envy, anger? The lies – and her theories with her diagrams? Upset?

12.Jack and his bewilderment, the taxis, at the art gallery, talking to Marion’s friends, being upset about the stories from the past, at the market, his being arrested as a thief?

13.The various men in Marion’s life, their characters, talk, frankness, sexual memories? The girlfriends?

14.The culmination of the two days’ experience, their both thinking that they did not know each other, the talk, the abrupt ending? Their future?